One of the nation’s top newspapers this week identified a Northwest Arkansas city as one of the in places because of its impressive, expanding dining scene.

The Washington Post identified the Bentonville dining scene as “in” for 2013.

Bentonville’s dining scene has expanded markedly since the arrival of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, a world-class art museum opened in late 2011 by Alice Walton. Walton, the daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, is one of three honorary lifetime members of the Northwest Arkansas Council.

Bentonville’s recognition by the Washington Post comes after the city was featured in the October issue of Southern Living magazine. The magazine suggested Bentonville is “the South’s next cultural mecca.” Southern Living focused on Crystal Bridges and Bentonville restaurants such as Tusk and Trotter, Petit Bistro and Tavola Trattoria and nearby War Eagle Mill as keys to the region’s dining scene.

Bentonville's overall scene should improve again early this year with the opening of 21c Museum Hotel, 104-room luxury hotel within walking distance of Cyrstal Bridges. The new Bentonville hotel's sister properties (there's one in Louisville and another in Cincinnati) are recognized as being among the best hotels in the world.

Click here to see the Washington Post article and list of what's "in" and what's "out" in 2013.